ABSTRACT
Pius V and Gregory XIII continue to employ the combined approach taken by Pius IV and complete the decoration of the Sala Regia of the Vatican palace begun by Pius IV. But in addition to commissioning historical paintings, Pius V and Gregory XIII also emphasize the present: whenever possible and beneficial to the image of the papacy, they visually exploit contemporary political events. Pius V's papacy begins with a relapse to traditional norms that is very symptomatic for any reform movement: during the conclave, cardinal nephew Carlo Borromeo attempts to implement the reform decrees issued in Trent by abolishing the requirement to vote in accordance with party policy. Pius V's patronage is characterized by an emphasis on religious themes, virulent anti-paganism and historical revisionism. The Ghislieri pope makes it his personal mission to destroy anything remotely reminiscent of pagan idolatry.
